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Ex-Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson has said that Arsenal’s probable signing of Jorginho from Chelsea could be a “top signing” as the league leaders chase down a Premier League title this season.
The Gunners currently lead the English top flight and have attempted to bolster their ranks in the current January transfer window. News of an injury to starting midfielder Thomas Partey saw the club swing into action and scour the market for a replacement.
The club were linked heavily with Brighton and Hove Albion’s Ecuador midfield dynamo Moises Caiceido the player’s club were reluctant to let him go.
Caiceido even posted to social media this week about his desire to join Arsenal in order to force the move but Brighton were not convinced, even as the Gunners were rumored to bid around 70 million pounds for the 22 year old.
Reports emerged on the eve of the January transfer deadline that Chelsea’s Italian playmaker Jorginho could be made available to Arsenal for a reasonable sum. Early on deadline day the reports confirmed that the Gunners would sign the midfielder for a sum of 12 million pounds.
The sale of the Italian is thought to have suited the Blues too as they spend massive sums to reignite their squad under new owner Todd Boehly and recently appointed manager Graham Potter.
Merson’s Reaction
On Sky Sports News, pundit Merson had his say on the transfer. The ex-Arsenal player was quite complimentary of his old club’s signing.
“I think outstanding. You are buying experience as well,” Merson said, “He’s won big trophies. He is a proper holding midfield player.”
“We were only talking about, two years ago when they won the Champions League and he won the Euros, we were saying ‘why don’t England produce one of these players?” Merson explained, “Two years on and Arsenal could be getting him.”
“I know he’s two years older, but he’s so intelligent. He’ll protect the back four and he just keeps it simple,” he said of the potential signing, “He will be feeding Odegaard. He will be feeding Saka and Martinelli.”
“For me, he is a top signing. He knows he won’t be playing every week. But he will bring experience and calmness. I call it a cup of tea.”
Carragher on Chelsea’s Sale
Fellow Sky Sports speaker Jamie Carragher has recently reacted to Chelsea’s policy of bringing in big players for big sums and letting more experienced stalwarts depart.
“It feels a bit scattergun, we thought that in the summer, I do think there is obviously a plan about what they want to do in the future, I would be really interested to know what the manager’s private thoughts are as it feels like he has just come into this club and players are just coming in left, right and centre and he has to build and something and create some sort of team,” the ex-Liverpool defender stated.
“He will have great players, but can you create that sort of team ethic and bond that all great teams need in the future?” he added.
“But if you are a Chelsea fan, it is really exciting. Todd Boehly has come in and put his money where his mouth is and he wants to get Chelsea right back to the top.”
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